Editorial: Renters bill would be another attack on the poor

Landlords may soon be able to charge more up front in Michigan – up to 2 months rent plus $100 in advance – if a bill recently introduced in the House of Representatives goes through.

The bill would widen the divide between those who can afford housing and those who can’t, and those most likely to feel the effects are families and children living below the poverty line.

It’s a needless attack on poor people.

Proponents of the bill say it would allow landlords to keep up with rising costs of repairs and protect them against renters who damage the property or leave unpaid water bills, according to State Rep. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township).

Mechanisms already exist to help landlords keep up and protect against damage – one is the rental rate set by landlords themselves and the other is going to court, where wrongdoers get punished without penalizing those who have done nothing wrong.

Damage to rental properties is obviously a concern.

However, a solution that penalizes all tenants is unacceptable. A much better solution would be to pursue changes that target the tenants who damage rentals.

This legislation assumes the worst of people, preemptively punishing those who can least afford it.

Average rent for an apartment in Lansing is around $800, according to a comparison of several rental websites. That means that along with the first month, a family or individual may have to come up with $2,500 to be able to move into a home.

For many, that could mean significant life changes over several months. Fewer groceries. Falling behind or defaulting on bills.

And some of the people facing these changes will be forced to move – perhaps their home burned down or the previous place they were renting was foreclosed on through no fault of their own.

“The amount you can charge hasn’t been raised in a long time … and if a renter doesn’t have the money initially to move in, I don’t know how to cure that,” Lucido said.

That’s a callous comment, and one that ignores the plight of families and individuals who live below the poverty line.

Michigan – and its legislators – must do better than that. Putting more of the burden on renters, particularly when affordable housing is hard to secure, is not the answer.

– an LSJ editorial

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The LSJ Editorial Board speaks for the LSJ as an institution. Editorials do not carry an individual byline because stances on issues are never decided by one person. Contact the board by emailing opinions@lsj.com.